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Beautiful. I love the Friday Cephalopod more than I love the snark and the puns, if that’s at all possible.

I’ve always wondered how an octopus feels when you touch it. I imagine something akin to the feel of wet neoprene… but I’m probably way off base. Anyone have experience in the matter and care to share?

Cuttlefish are absolutely cuddly and nice to hold their hand on a NY street, especially if they’re Digital.

Oh, you mean *real* ones!

Well, I had the experience of meeting an octopus and a (real) cuttlefish in a petting pond at the AQUA center here in Australia – and they’re both quite smooth. Almost as if they have a gelatin skin, but a bit firmer. Not rubbery. My hand sort of slid along it. They’re quite inquisitive and don’t mind being stroked.

how do Cephalopods manage to keep their brains safe in such a squishable, streachable, body plan? I’ve been wondering this for awhile, they appear to be able to smash themselves into a tiny tube as part of solving a puzzle that would take a bit of intelligence to undo, and yet even while squashed free tentacles can be working on the next part of the puzzle! And yet my brain is hidden away inside the equivalent of a metal safe and would be totally destroyed by similar compression.

I’ve never touched a cephalopod, but I used to keep a marine aquarium, and I had a pink tipped anemone that used to like to crawl onto my hand (they can move, sort of like a snail). I’m guessing it was attracted to the heat, or maybe it’s some weird cnidarian thing.

When I used to work for the Seattle Aquarium (2-3 years ago) they frequently had Giant Pacific Octopuses in holding as well as the one(s) on display, and we used to be allowed to go back and play with them. Apparently in recent years people were careless and too many octos were escaping, so no more playing with them, but it was cool while it lasted. They look so squishy, so I was completely surprised to feel rock-solid muscles, almost like cables under the soft, velvet skin. Also surprising was the strength in the suckers. The first time one latched on, I almost thought it was bite or something, it was so firm. Anything that has that kind of strength at about 15 pounds, and can potentially grow over 400 has my respect!

On my last few dive trips in Hawaii, I’ve been THE Octopus spotter. I don’t know why, apparently just looking in the right direction at the right time– when a small movement caught my eye I guess. In any case, what a thrill!

I just got a new computer, large monitor and DSL – and had no idea these cephalopods I’ve been seeing ever since I discovered your blog could be so ugly. Yes, I know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

It’s a good thing I’m too old to get nightmares.

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